Vacuum cleaner and dusting tool adapter therefor



y 24, 1955 E. o. THORNWALD 2,703,766

VACUUM CLEANER AND DUSTING TOOL ADAPTER THEREFOR Filed June 10. 1949 y 1955 I E. D. THORNWALD VACUUM CLEANER AND DUSTING TOOL ADAPTER THEREFQR Filed June 10. 1349 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .5 rd Q Z m m J y 24, 1955 E. D. THORNWALD 2,708,756

VACUUM CLEANER AND DUSTING TOOL ADAPTER THEREFOR Filed June 10. 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 In yen for JIM/655$ T/wrnwa/a 55 y M M Jharn eys.

United States Patent VACUUM CLEANER AND DUSTING TOOL ADAPTER THEREFOR Everett D. Thornwald, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Clements Mfg. Co., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application June 10, 1949, Serial No. 98,296

7 Claims. (Cl. 15--332) The invention relates to an improvement in vacuum cleaners and has for one purpose to provide an improved cleaner in which the provision is made for receiving a dusting tool adapter.

Another purpose is to provide an improved dusting tool adapter structure.

Another purpose is to provide a dusting tool adapter which, when inserted in operative position, is effective also to remove the fan belt from the motor pulley which normally drives it.

Other purposes will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

,- Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section;

Fig. 2 is a partial vertical longitudinal section, with the dusting tool adapter in place;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the adapter structure shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the adapter structure shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the adapter structure, on a somewhat enlarged scale, and with parts broken away and with parts in section; and

Fig. 7 is a section on an enlarged scale on the line 7--7 of Fig. 5; and Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 3.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates any suitable supporting surface such as a floor, rug or carpet. A, generally indicates the forward portion or housing of a vacuum cleaner. It includes a forwardly and downwardly inclined upper wall 2 and a forwardly and downwardly inclined lower wall 3, the walls being sutiably connected at their sides and terminating at the floor nozzle portion 4. The vacuum cleaner housing has a rear portion 5 which defines an outlet passage .6. 7 indicates a motor housing in which is positioned'any suitable motor 8, the details of 'which do not of themselves form part of the present invention. The motor housing is closed, at its upper end by a' closure plate 9 through which extends a motor shaft 10. Positioned on an upper part 10a of the shaft is the fan body generally indicated as Illand having any suitable fan blades 12. The upward continuation of the housing wall 3 is apertured as at 13v to provide an air inlet to the chamber formed by any vsuitable downwardly extending circumferential wall 14. 15 is any suitable housing or wall portion to which the plate 9 and the motor housing 7 may suitably be secured.

' It will be understood that in response to rotation of the rotor of the motor 8, the motor shaft 10, 10a is rotated and thus the fan 11, 12. The resultris an inflow of air through the aperture 4a of the floor nozzle 4, air flowing upwardly and rearwardly to the air inlet or suction inlet 13. of the fan chamber. The air is exhausted or discharged from the fan'chamber or scroll through the outlet duct 6.

It will be understood that any suitable receiving means, bag or duct may be employed to receive the dirty air delivered through the outlet passage 6. Since such a bag or container or passage does not of itself form part of the present invention, it is not illustrated herein. The actual air passage between the floor nozzle inlet 4a and the fan suction inlet 13 may be formed in part by an inner top plate 16. This plate is shown as having a normally closed air inlet 17. A preferably removable outer plate 18 overlies the rear portion of the cover plate 16 and is provided with a normally closed air inlet aperture 19. It will be understood that in the normal use of the device, a hinged or removable closure plate 20 is employed which carries an inner bracket 21 to which is movably secured the inner closure plate 22 mounted for limited movement upon the positioning and guiding elements 23. The plate 20 may be hinged as at 24, for ready removal. It will be understood that when the parts are in the position in which they are shown in Fig. l, the plate 20 somewhat loosely closes the inlet 19, whereas the plate 22 very snugly closes the air inlet 17. To prevent any substantial leakage, it may have a yielding packing ring or gasket 25. It will be understood that when the fan 11, 12 is rotating, the suction is effective to draw the plate 22 downwardly along the limiting guides 23 as far as the gasket 25 will permit. The result is a simple structure which eiiiciently prevents any damaging degree of air leakage through the aperture 17.

Suitably journalled or mounted in the nozzle 4 is a brush generally indicated as 30. The brush structure is not shown in detail, as it does not of itself form part of the present invention. It preferably includes a driven pulley 31 about which passes a belt 32 of suitable material, the belt 32 passing about and driving pulley 33, which may be contoured, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8, to resemble two inwardly converging truncated cones. The pulley 33 may be mounted on any suitable extension 10b of the motor shaft 10. Surrounding extension 10b is a fixed conic abutment 34 which may be conveniently contoured as a continuing extension of the lower cone of the pulley 33. It includes also outwardly extending bottom limiting portions 35 and may be supported in fixed position by cross pieces 36 which extend to and may form part of the cleaner wall 3.

It will be understood that the cleaner housing may be supported by any suitable means, but front supporting rollers 46 and rear supporting rollers 41 are indicated.

In the normal use of the device, when the operator is merely moving the cleaner over a floor surface, the closures 20 and 22 remain in the full line position in which they are shown in Fig. l. The belt 32 passes about the pulleys 31- and 33. The rotation of the motor simultaneouslyoperates the fan 11, 12 and the brush 30. Thus, the brush brushes, the surface'undergoing cleaning and the dust particles are drawn with the inflowing air upwardly through the nozzle aperture 4a upwardly and rearwardly between the walls 3 and 16 and downwardly through the fan chamber inlet 13 for escape through the exhaust duct 6.

It is important to provide an adequate connection between dusting tools and the vacuum cleaner, as where the user wishes to. clean walls, furniture, drapes and the like. It is important, however, that when a dusting tool adapter is used, the operator is able to leave the cleaner on the floor in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1. But, if the brush is allowed to continue its rotation during the use of the dusting tool, it is then necessary either to turn the housing over or to elevate it in such fashion that the brush will not engage the surface over which the cleaner is placed. A purpose of the present invention is to provide an adequate and efiicient dusting tool adapter which may be easily and quickly inserted by a simple rectilinear movement along the axis of the fan and motor. This single movement being all that is required both to insert the adapter and to remove the belt from its normal driving relationship with the motor pulley. The dusting tool adapter herein shown adequately performs the above described functions.

The adapter includes three main elements, namely: the adapter sleeve or tubular portion 45, the actuating handle 60 and the swivelled tool connection generally indicated as 7th. Considering first the tubular member 45, it may be generally cylindrical and is provided with a key way or slot 46 which engages a key 3b in the upwardly extending arcuate wall 3a, and thus limits the sleeve 45 to rectilinear movement toward and from the inlet aperture 13. It also insures that the notch 47 of the lower edge of the sleeve 45 is properly positioned to engage and surround the adjacent portions of the belt 32. The sleeve 45 also carries a plurality of spring latches 48. each of which has an inwardly extending cam portion 49 and an outwardly extending latch portion 50 which extends outwardly through a suitable aperture also with a downwardly extending limit end 52. The spring latches 48 will over-ride the edges of the wall 16 which surround the aperture 17, when the adapter is moved toward the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2.

After the latch portions have over-ridden the edges of the wall 16, they move yieldingly into the latching position in which they are shown in Fig. 6. Thereby, any unintended retrograde movement of the sleeve 45 is prevented.

As will be clear from Fig. 2, the sleeve actually bends the belt 32 out of its normal alignment. The part of the belt 32 which actually normally engages the pulley 33 is moved from the pulley into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 8. This result is obtained by thrust fingers 53 which are preferably of spring stock and which may be mounted on any suitable cross structure 5-4 which is secured to and moves unitarily with the sleeve 45. The spring fingers 53 may have pro-loading fingers 54a which limit their inward movement. The fingers 53 also have outwardly inclined lower end portions 55.

Thus, when the adapter sleeve 45 is moved toward and into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2, one result is that the lower ends of the fingers 55 over-ride or extend outwardly from the upper edge of the pulley 33 and engage the belt 32. of contact with the constantly rotating pulley 13 and is moved against and held against the fixed supporting abutment 34, 35. Since the conic abutment 34 constitutes a continuation of the conic surface of the pulley 33,

there is no resistance except the elasticity of the belt 32 itself. However, the belt, after it has moved out around the fixed cone 34, abuts against the transverse portion 35 and is held firmly in position out of contact with the rotating pulley 33, until the dusting tool adapter is again removed.

The sleeve 45 has an inwardly extending portion 56 which terminates in an upwardly extending portion sleeve 57 of reduced diameter. This portion 57 is also provided with a circumferential slot 58. Surrounding the portion 57 is the tubular inner end 71 of the hose connection 70. Any suitable means are provided for relative axial movement of the sleeve 57 and the surrounding hose connection sleeve 71. For example, any suitable penetrating element 72 may be mounted on or secured to the sleeve 71, it being formed and adapted to enter the circumferential channel 58. The hose connection also includes an outer sleeve 73 which terminates as at 74 in a plane perpendicular to the fan and motor axis and substantially spaced from the inwardly extending sleeve portion or shoulder 56. It will be understood, however, that the hose connection swivels freely in relation to the sleeve 45 while being held against longitudinal movement along the axis of the sleeve 45. Thus the operator, leaving the vacuum cleaner in a fixed position in a room, can work from it, as from a fixed base, and clean walls and 51 and is provided The belt 32 is thereby moved out Lit furniture within a substantial radius. Of course the tool may also be moved readily along the floor, but constant movement is not necessary.

In order to insert and remove the dusting tool adapter, there is provided the handle element generally indicated as 69. It is shown as including opposite outward handle extensions 61, formed and adapted for ready manipulation. its upper side is circumferentially apertured as at 62, in line with the outer sleeve '73 of the hose connection. It will be understood that the bottom of the channel 62 limits the upward movement of the handle 60, referring to the parts as shown in Fig. 6, while the shoulder 56 limits the downward movement of the handle 60. Extending downward from the handle 60 are latch release fingers 63. These extend downwardly through the shoulder 56 or" the sleeve 45 and terminate in end hooks or otisets or loops 64 which are opposed to the cam surfaces 49 of the spring latches 48. It will be understood that when the user is urging the sleeve 45 toward the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2, the handle 60 actually engages and thrusts against the shoulder 56. The springs 48, and their cam portions 49, are effective normally to hold the release elements 63 in the position in which they are shown in Fig. 6. The user simply pushes the sleeve 45 rectilinearly into place as soon as he has engaged the slot 46 with the guiding lug 47. When the latches 5% have snapped over the edges of the aperture 17 and are in latching position beneath the wall 16, the operator releases the handle 60 and the dusting tool is ready for use. When the operator again wishes to remove the dusting tool adapter, all that he has to do is to grasp the handle 60 or its portion 61 and pull outwardly along the axis of the motor. Referring to the position of the parts in Fig. 6, the handle 60 moves from the full line position to the dotted line position. In the course of this movement, the release rods 63, through their lower end 64, earn the spring latches 48 inwardly sulticiently so that the latching ends 59 clear the edges of the aperture 17 in the wall 16. The operator simply continues his upward pull on the handle 60 and withdraws the now released sleeve 45. As a matter of fact, under many conditions the tension on the belt 32, as will beclear from Fig. 2, is considerable. It may be sutficient actually to expel the sleeve 45. In any event, it assists and hastens its upward withdrawal. The operator thereafter returns the closure 20 to the position in which it is shown in Fig. l and the device is ready for use as a floor cleaner.

It will be understood that the inclination or conicity of the fixed support 34 is sufiicient so that there is no tendency of the belt 32 to remain in the position of Fig. 2. It promptly snaps back into the position of Fig. l, and the brush is thereafter directly driven from the motor.

It will be realized that whereas there has been shown a practical and operative device, nevertheless, many changes may be made in size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is, therefore, wished that the description and drawings be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic rather than as limiting the invention to the specific details herein set out.

The use and operation of the invention are as follows:

The structure herein described and shown provides av compact and efiicient floor engaging and floor supported vacuum cleaner which penetrates readily into corners and beneath furniture, having a relatively small overall height. It also includes a highly advantageous dusting tool adapter provision.

The vacuum cleaner will be seen to include a motor having a forwardly and upwardly inclined axis. This motor is housed within the motor housing 7, the bottom of which is not far above the floor surface. and fan chamber are located above the motor. The suction inlet 13 to the fan chamber is in the upper wall of the fan chamber. The housing is downwardly and The fan forwardly inclined toward the floor nozzle with an air passage which extends upwardly and rearwardly from the floor nozzle 4 to the fan chamber suction inlet 13. It is a matter of an instant or two when the operator wishes to connect the machine to dusting tool use, to flip the cover plate 20 into the open position and to insert the converter or adapter sleeve 45 into position. A single movement of the adapter sleeve simultaneously makes an adequate connection between the tool and the fan chamber, seals off the connection between the floor nozzle and the fan chamber and removes the brush belt from the motor pulley. A single movement in the opposite direction releases the spring latches which hold the adapter in place, withdraws the adapter, and releases the belt to its original position on the pulley 33. The operator then merely flips the closure 20 back into the position of Fig. 1, and the vacuum cleaner is again ready for floor use.

It Will be understood that the adapter herein shown can be inserted while the cleaner is in operation and the motor rotating. However, this is not a recommended practice and it is preferable that the operator switch 01"]? the motor while making the insertion.

I claim:

1. In combination, in a vacuum cleaner having a body, a motor, a fan casing having an air inlet aperture and an exhaust aperture, a fan in said casing driven by said motor, a floor nozzle having therein a rotary floor engaging tool, an air intake duct extending from said floor nozzle to said air inlet aperture, a belt pulley driven by said motor and positioned in said air intake duct, a driving belt extending from said pulley to said tool, said belt being tensioned to provide a driving connection between said pulley md said tool, an adapter-receiving aperture in the wall of said air-intake duct, generally aligned with the air-inlet aperture of said fan casing and with the axis of said pulley, an adapter insertable through said receiving aperture, said adapter including a belt-contacting member carried therein, and a stationary belt-receiving member free from operative connection with said motor and mounted within said body adjacent said pulley to receive said belt as the belt is moved out of driving engagement with said pulley, said belt receiving member having a surface flaring outwardly from the driving surface of the pulley, said belt-contacting member being aligned, when the adapter is inserted, with the portion of the belt in driving contact with said pulley to thereby contact that portion of the belt and move said belt from said pulley into inoperable position on said belt-receiving member in response to movement of the adapter through said airinlet aperture, said belt contacting member, when said adapter is inserted, acting to hold the belt under positive constraint on said receiving member, the tension on-said belt being suflicient to force said belt from said receiving member to said pulley when said belt-contacting member is moved away from said belt.

2. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including a generally elongated, resilient belt-contacting member having its axis extending generally parallel with the axis of the adapter.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said pulley includes a generally frusto-conic belt-receiving surface and said belt-receiving member is formed and aligned generally as an extension of said surface.

4. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including a latch on said adapter normally biased to latching position and adapted to hold the adapter against unintended removal.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein said air intake duct is positioned above said motor and the axis of said pulley is inclined upwardly with relation to a supporting surface for the cleaner, said adapter including an air intake conduit mounted for full rotation about the axis of said adapter.

6. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including a plurality of belt-contacting members extending generally parallel with the axis of the adapter and spaced apart so as to engage the belt at spaced points on the belt during insertion of the adapter.

7. The structure of claim 1 wherein said belt-receiving member is generally frusto-conio in form.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,333,682 Roberston Mar. 16, 1920 1,462,223 Wright July 17, 1923 1,759,242 Nielsen May 20, 1930 2,140,143 Sellers Dec. 30, 1938 2,149,138 Gasner Feb. 28, 1939 2,190,882 Pardee Feb. 20, 1940 2,280,350 Pardee Apr. 21, 1942 2,340,379 Hahn Feb. 1, 1944 2,366,125 Pardee Dec. 26, 1944 2,382,348 Taylor Aug. 14, 1945 2,482,337 Hahn Sept. 20, 1949 2,682,680 Trimble July 6, 1954 2,682,681 Ballutt" July 6, 1954 OTHER REFERENCES Ser. Ne. 344,417, Eisenloir (A. P. 0. published April 27, 1943. 

